Environmental Report
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Pilot testing of the CAMP guidelines on strategic environmental assessment for the CAMP pilot study area Final report 16 February 2008 CAMP Cyprus Pilot testing of the CAMP guidelines on strategic environmental assessment for the CAMP pilot study area Table of contents Non technical summary ..................................................................................................................................................................................3 1. Introduction to this report ........................................................................................................................................................................7 2. An outline of the contents, main objectives of the plans subject to this SEA and their relationship with other relevant plans and programmes ...................................................................................................................................................................................................9 2.1. Outline of the contents of the plans subject to this SEA ....................................................................................................................9 2.2 Specific development objectives for area covered by the Local Plan of Larnaca ............................................................................. 13 2.3 Specific development objectives for area outside the Local Plan of Larnaca ................................................................................... 14 3. Environmental characteristics of the areas likely to be significantly affected by the relevant plans ....................................................... 15 3.1 Introduction .....................................................................................................................................................................................15 3.2 Overall environmental characteristic of Sub-region 1 .......................................................................................................................16 3.3 Overall environmental characteristic of Sub-region 2 .......................................................................................................................17 4. The relevant environmental protection issues and objectives addressed within this SEA ..................................................................... 18 5. Trends in key environmental issues with and without the proposed plan ..............................................................................................21 5.1 Biodiversity including fauna and flora ............................................................................................................................................21 5.2 Water resources ..............................................................................................................................................................................26 5.4 Landscape ......................................................................................................................................................................................33 5.5 Population and human health ..........................................................................................................................................................37 5.6 Cultural architectural and archaeological heritage ...........................................................................................................................39 5.7 Soil and geology ..............................................................................................................................................................................41 6. Key authorities consulted in the SEA process ......................................................................................................................................44 17 December 2007 Page 2 of 44 CAMP Cyprus Pilot testing of the CAMP guidelines on strategic environmental assessment for the CAMP pilot study area 0. Non technical summary This report aims to test the Guidance for conducting Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) elaborated within the CAMP Cyprus by Jiri Dusik (CAMP International SEA Consultant) under the overall guidance by Ms. Joanna Constantinidou (CAMP National Coordinator, Environment Service), Mr. Glafkos Constantinides (CAMP Task Manager) and Ms. Christina Pantazi (CAMP National Director, Environment Service) The report is largely derived from information provided by Mr. Panicos Nicolaides (CAMP National SEA Consultant) which has been further developed by Jiri Dusik and verified through consultations with numerous national authorities involved in CAMP activity on SEA (see chapter 6 for details). The primary objective of this pilot SEA aims to demonstrate SEA process and to provide inputs for finalising of this proposed guidance. This report does not represent any form of formal SEA which may have any immediate formal implications fort the relevant plans or formal decision-making by relevant authorities. It also does not replace any formal EIA studies required under the EIA directive. This pilot SEA analyzes impacts of two different plans -- one being the Larnaca Local Plan and the second one being the Policy Statement for the Countryside -- in the CAMP pilot study area. The CAMP pilot area covers the southern half of the in Larnaca city to Cape Kiti (see the Map 1 on the left). The fact that this SEA focuses on impacts of two different plans which were already formally adopted and are being implemented is indicative of an informal nature of this pilot assessment. Any formal SEA conducted in accordance with the Directive 2001/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2001 on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment (hereafter SEA Directive) would have to be undertaken for a single plan during its elaboration and would have to be completed before its adoption. Map 1: Satellite imagery of the study area 17 December 2007 Page 3 of 44 CAMP Cyprus Pilot testing of the CAMP guidelines on strategic environmental assessment for the CAMP pilot study area The key issues, cumulative impacts of the Plan and the proposed mitigation measures can be summarized as follows. Issues Key cumulative impacts of the Plan and other future developments Proposed mitigation and enhancement measures to be considered in the Plan Biodiversity in • Salt-lakes may be significantly adversely impacted if the water balance 1. Implementation of the Management Plan for the Salt Lake and the Larnaca regime in salt-lakes will become disturbed by the reduction of its further revision to fulfill the provisions of the Habitats Salt Lakes freshwater inflow to the lakes. Such reduction in the inflow is already Directive. (Natura 2000 caused by the documented reduction in rainfall in the last few decades 2. Implementation of a detailed monitoring program to monitor site) (attributed to climate change) and is further enhanced by the reduction impacts of ongoing developments on migratory species of freshwater inflow due to urbanization of the surrounding areas. The (especially impacts of changes in the water quality and full implementation of the Management Plan for the Lake may partly impacts due to increasing noise in the study area) mitigate or offsets these impacts, however more attention needs to be 3. Adoption of additional measures if the monitoring programme given to water balance regime in salt-lakes. indicates that migratory species in the Lakes are negatively • The lake ecosystem will continue to be affected by noise generated by affected the road transport and by the expansion of Larnaca International Airport. The nature and magnitude of this impact on migratory species is uncertain and this issue needs to be carefully monitored. Quality of • If limited housing units and tourist facilities are developed and if a 4. Plan for the construction of a drainage system that will help coastal surface controllable drainage system is implemented in the area, no major remove pollutants before they enter the river bed (use of waters impacts are expected in the surface fresh waters. screening facilities, use of detention ponds) • Some minor local adverse impacts on the surface fresh waters will continue because of the ongoing agricultural activities. Quality and • Continuation of agricultural activities in the area would likely bring 5. Implement a central sewerage system in the area to protect quantity of negative impacts on local aquifers due to lowering the ground water the aquifer from releases of sewage in absorption pits. ground waters levels. and enhancing the sea intrusion in the area. This would keep the concentrations of chlorides and nitrates at very high levels. • Development of the Housing Zones according to the Proposed Plan is expected to bring positive impacts since the agricultural activities will be eliminated in the area, thus the quantities of pumped ground water from local wells will be eliminated therefore the ground water level will rise and the nitrates pollution will be also minimized. If a central sewerage system is implemented, then development of housing will not lead to any significant adverse impacts on the local aquifers. 17 December 2007 Page 4 of 44 CAMP Cyprus Pilot testing of the CAMP guidelines on strategic environmental assessment for the CAMP pilot study area Aesthetics • If the plans are not implemented, the visual and aesthetics destruction 6. The following should be incorporated